Green Home Solution

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by Going Green at Home

For large number of South African’s reducing the impact we make on our environment is a growing concern. We’re all too aware of the effects and potential results of global warming, air and water pollution, and landfills overflowing with waste which could have been reused or recycled. Many of us are vaguely aware of the term carbon footprint, a number of us have a certain degree of familiarity with the concept and some even understand it completely. However, whether you’re fully clued up on climate change or completely oblivious to all environmental issues, actively changing our lifestyles and habits to reduce our carbon footprints can seem daunting at best and impossible at worst. Often this is due to a lack of credible information, but also the lack of products and services available once we decide on going green. Although South Africa’s green industry and economy is still in its infancy, there are a small number of service providers who focus on helping ordinary people reduce their carbon footprint by changing one or two aspects of their lives or becoming completely carbon neutral.

Whether you live in a large house with several family members or a single bedroom flat, there are a number of simple green home solutions available to help you do your part.

Another method of cutting down on your electricity usage is by installing a solar water heating system and solar geyser. Not to be confused with solar panels, these systems use the heat of the sun to warm up water for use in our homes. These systems can effectively replace traditional geysers, which are one of the most notorious energy consumers in our homes.

One of the simplest and easiest solutions is actually a product which has been in existing for many years and was not developed for the purpose of reducing carbon emissions. Ceiling insulation helps to keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter, reducing the need for power-hungry fans and heaters. By lowering your electricity consumption you will save money and help to reduce the amount of carbon pumped into our atmosphere.

Solar panels also harness the sun’s energy, but do so in a completely different way by converting the rays into electricity which can be used in our homes. There a number of different models and sizes of solar panel available, each suited to a particular application, but they all generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Solar panels have also become increasingly affordable in recent years as manufacturers have discovered how to construct them easier and faster.

Skylights are another easy way to maximize your home’s environmental friendliness while also reaping a range of additional benefits. These installations act as windows in a roof, allowing in natural light and warmth into the building to reduce the amount of energy consumed by electric lights and heaters.

If you’re interested in having any of these useful green solutions installed in your home and would like to be contacted by a service provider then ThinkQuote can assist you. Simply complete the quick and easy online form by listing some basic details about the work you require and soon enough quotes will be coming to you.